Question
Dear Will,
I bought a beautiful fiddle leaf ficus about 2 mos ago and it seems to be doing well, only I've noticed some random brown patches on several leaves mostly towards the bottom of the tree(the plant is about 5 feet tall).  The plant gets good indirect light all day long and I keep the soil on the dry side for fear of over-watering.  I love this plant and I paid about 140 bucks for it so I really want it to prosper and continue to make me smile.  Any tips would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you, Kelly green

Answer
Hi Kelly,

Ficus lyratas quite commonly develop brown patches on the leaves for a variety of reasons. Improper light and watering are the most common causes.

Your Lyrata should be right immediately in front of an uncovered window where it gets at least a few hours of direct sun each day.

You may be allowing the soil to get too dry. If it is properly potted (in the same sized pot in which it was grown), then it should be watered whenever the top half inch of soil feels dry.

Poor water quality can also be a problem. If your tap water is on the hard side, use filtered or distilled instead.

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.

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Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC